Congress workers, police clash during NEET protest

JAIPUR, 21 MAY

Tension escalated in Jaipur on Thursday as Congress workers protesting the alleged NEET paper leak clashed with police during a march towards the BJP headquarters. Police used water cannons and erected barricades near the Martyrs’ Memorial and Police Commissionerate to prevent protesters from advancing, resulting in scuffles between demonstrators and security personnel.

The protest was led by Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra, who marched alongside party leaders and workers demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination. Amid the protest, Congress workers carried Dotasra on their shoulders while police sprayed water cannons on the crowd.

Former minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas staged a sit-in outside the Police Commissionerate, while former MLA Ved Prakash Solanki was pushed back by police during the confrontation. MLA Manish

Yadav also attempted to cross barricades but was stopped by police.

The march began from the Congress state headquarters and included women, youth, and supporters, with some participants dressed as NEET aspirants to symbolically represent students affected by the alleged paper leak. Addressing protesters, Dotasra accused the National Testing Agency of losing public trust and demanded strict action against those responsible for jeopardising the future of nearly 22 lakh students.He called for a court-monitored investigation and renewed demands for the Education Minister’s resignation.